Eighth Amendment

  • Federal Appeals Court Halts Texas Execution of Edward Busby Over Intellectual Disability Questions

    A federal appeals court has temporarily halted the scheduled execution of Texas death row inmate Edward Busby, citing unresolved constitutional questions surrounding whether he is intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for execution under U.S. law. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued the 2-1 ruling ahead of Busby’s planned Thursday execution,…

  • DOJ Moves to Resume Federal Executions, Signals Expansion of Capital Punishment Framework

    The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a sweeping policy shift to resume federal executions, marking a significant reversal of the 2021 moratorium and signaling a broader expansion of capital punishment at the federal level. In a statement released last Friday, the DOJ confirmed it is actively seeking death sentences against 44 defendants and…

  • Louisiana Becomes First U.S. State to Authorize Surgical Castration for Child Sex Offenders

    Louisiana has enacted one of the most controversial criminal justice measures in recent history, becoming the first state in the United States to authorize surgical castration as a possible punishment for convicted child sex offenders. The law, signed by Governor Jeff Landry, took effect on August 1, 2024, and has already triggered nationwide debate among…

  • Supreme Court Grapples with Limits on Cities’ Homeless Encampment Crackdowns, Ruling Expected By June

    In a heated session, the Supreme Court on Monday, April 22, deliberated on the extent to which U.S. cities can enforce regulations targeting homeless encampments, sparking a contentious debate on public health, constitutional rights, and municipal authority. The case under scrutiny involved Grants Pass, Oregon, where a local ordinance prohibited sleeping in public with a…